Outlet or junction box.



C. T. PRATT.

OUTLET OR JUNCTION BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR 10. 1907.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

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OUTLET on armcrxon BOX.

s ecmmunn of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11 1910.

7 Application filed April 19, 1907. Serial No. 369,072.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. Pna'rr of Frankfort, inthe county of 'Herkimer and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet or for electric conduits having as its more particular feature the-means of applying and -securing the cover to the box.

Figure 1 shows a perspective viewof one part of' the box with the cover removed. ig. 2 shows a erspective view of the cover of the same. ig. 3 shows a perspective view of another form of box embodying the features of the invention. Fi L 4 shows a perspective view of the cover or the same. Fig. 5 .showsa perspective view of still another form of construction.

Referringto the reference numerals in a more particular description, 2 indicates the body of a junction or outlet box consisting of the usual side walls and bottom, all ordinarily provided with plugged or incomplete openmgs,'at some or all of which the ends of conduits are introduced into the box. The box is'provided wit-ii inwardly turned ears 3, which in suitable screw threaded openings receive the screws 4. Thecoverb shown in Fig. 2 is adapted to be appliedto this box and is provided with the key hole openings 6 adapted to receive one pair of'said screws and a pair of slots 7 inthe edge adapted to receive the other pair of said screws. The cover is also provided with a short downwardly turned lip 8 which is arranged on the side corresponding with the enlarged end of the key hole openings 6. The screws l are relatively long and when run well out from the ears, the cover 5 may be applied, the

heads of one pair of screws passing through the enlarged ends of thekey openings 6. After being applied in the'prelimmary. po-

sition the cover is shifted. laterally while being held up (or ofi) at one edge at least sufliciently to allow the lip 8 to pass by the screws are tightened or screwed in somemanner against displacement.

'set screws to be started in unscrewing the edge of the wall and to the outside thereof. The lengths of the screws when extended must be suiiicient to permit this. Whenadjusted to the final poistion described the what, thus binding the cover against the 60 edges of the walls and engaging the lips 8 with the wall in such manner as to secure the cover in a most etlicient and satisfactory It is not necessary, however, in order to secure the covers safely in place, that the screws should be screwed in .so tight that their-heads will impinge against the covers, it only necessary, in order to prevent displacement of the covers, that. they shoulclbe screwed in far enough so that the flanges or projections on the covers cannot become diseng ed from the walls of the boxes; and thus, w on itis necessary to remove the covers, this can be done quickly without requiring tightly same. It will be noted that the cover is placed (and may be removed also) without removing the screws from their positions. in the box and, indeed, the screws may be slightly headed on their inner ends so as to prevent their removal. The construction permits the cover to be ap liedor removed with facility and without t e removal (with liability of loss) of any of the screws, and the operation may he performed in overhead work and other places which are reached with ditiiculty,

Figs. 3 and 4 show a small round form of box in which only two holding screws 4 are provided and the cover 5 is provided with two key hole openings 6, 6, to receive the same, as well as with the holding lip 8 adapted to engage the edge of the wall of the box, and prevent lateral displacement of the cover when the screws are tightened to bind the cover on the edges ofthe wall.

In Fig. 5 is shown a box 2"- having the cover 5 with four key hole openings 6", and the holding Ii 8'. This cover is held to the box in a slmi ar nianner to the forms previously described by the screws 4*, whichin this figure are shown set down or tightened. hen these screws are loosened, as described with reference to the other constructions, the cover is lifted sufiiciently to allow the 4" to pass-the edge of the box when it is shi ted laterally to bring the enlarged and of the readily suggest themselves.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent is:

The combination of an outlet bo'xhavin'g 1 a set of adjustable holding screws screwthreaded thereinwith their ads projecting therefrom, and a removable cover having key-hole slots with their larger ends adapte to-pass the screw heads and all arranged in @parallel lines with saidlarger ends all arranged in the same direction, said cover havmg a projection arranged to engage-the wall of the box and prevent relative movement of 'the boxland cover in the direction of the length of said slots when said screws are in the narrow portions of said slotsand the cover is bound to thebox thereby and'of a len 11 to permit said wall andprojection ,to

be isengaged when the screws are loosened and the cover displaced somewhat laterally from the box, thereby permitting relative movement of the box and cover to bring said screws into the larger ends'of said slots. 7 In witness'whereof, I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, thisdfith day of April 1907.

CHARLES T; PRATT. \Vitnesses:

GEO. E. RENDELL,

SARAH E. CLARK. 

